Photo courtesy Branscomb Farm (rider, Callie Schott)
Photo courtesy Gina Marie Woods
the beginning she felt smart, light and athletic. “I think the John Madden Sales contest is a wonderful promotion for American horses and I’m thrilled to be part of it,” she says. “I entered Coral Key hoping to give her the chance to go as far as she can in her competition career. I think Callie would give her a great [training] foundation to build from.”
Golden Altar, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding owned by Gina Marie Woods and bred by Tee N Jay Farm (Commendable—Rose Dawn).
I’ve ever owned,” she says. “The best gift I’ve ever received has been to have this journey with him. He came into my life at the perfect time. I was physically recovered from major surgery that saved my life, but I was missing that extra joy that only a horse can provide.”
Welcome BF, a 2006 Holsteiner mare owned and bred by Branscomb Farm, LLC (Cassini II—Reika BF, Lavall II).
■ Gina Woods of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania was an avid horsewoman and trainer who was sidelined by a debilitating disease. Following life-saving surgery in 2009, and with renewed energy and a desire to re-enter the equine field, she focused her attention on acquiring a horse to ride, compete and possibly re-sell. “Before my illness, I had retrained several OTTBs, so I set about finding a suitable racehorse looking to start a new career,” she explains. “Golden Altar was entered in one last claiming race at Charles Town, and I made the drive down to West Virginia to watch his race and see if I liked him. He was eye-catching, balanced, calm and extremely manageable in the paddock, and he WON! I held my breath, hoping he would not be claimed by another trainer. After speaking with his trainer the next day, I discovered he had not been claimed, so I purchased him immediately.” Golden Altar is the only horse that Gina owns, and
she entered him in the contest after a friend brought the opportunity to her attention. “I was hopeful, but put the thought out of my mind that he would be chosen as a semi- finalist,” she admits. “I’ve always felt he is a phenomenal horse and have received many compliments about him…I was elated when notified he was being considered as a semi-finalist. He has always shown a great work ethic and he loves his job. His athleticism has always been obvious to me; it has taken some time to get used to the power of his jump. He’s progressed in his re-training with ease to this point, but I haven’t forced or rushed him.” Gina originally purchased Golden Altar with the intention of selling him. As an amateur, she doesn’t feel she can help him realize his full potential. “He is, without a doubt, the best horse
14 July/August 2012
■ Kc Branscomb Kelley founded Branscomb Farm in Half Moon Bay, California in 2002 to give back to the sport that she has enjoyed as an active amateur hunter/jumper competitor for 50+ years, competing on both coasts and in Canada and Mexico. Her farm’s mission states, ‘The Best of Europe, Bred in the USA,’ and Kc says they breed international quality jumping prospects from the best pure European bloodlines. Kc explains that Welcome BF is a typical representative of
a Branscomb Farm-bred and developed youngster: “Sound, sensible, and supremely athletic, she combines the great Holsteiner jumping bloodlines of Cassini (Capitol–Caletto II) with the lighter, more agile blood of Lavall and Ricardo who bring Ladykiller and Ramiro to the mare line. Her dam, Reika BF jumped Grand Prix with Daniel [Zilla] on the West Coast, and she now keeps a mother of several small children very safe yet competitive while jumping around the high A/Os in Florida. Welcome was developed slowly and carefully, radiographs OCD–free, offers a wonderful, intelligent mind and has the scope and carefulness to be competitive anywhere in the world.” Like the rest of Branscomb’s horses, Kc says that her
ultimate goal for Welcome BF is that she be sold to an owner who recognizes her talents, loves her for her generous nature and that they go forward together in sport and triumph mightily. “She has a daughter by Diarado and several other relatives at the farm, so we hope she makes her equine family proud as well,” Kc adds.
Promoting American-Bred Hoses As an owner of an OTTB, Gina Marie Woods feels it is
particularly important to promote American-bred horses. “There are many horses out there to choose from, and many
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